- Joined
- Oct 23, 2012
- Messages
- 7
- Motherboard
- OS X 10.5.8
- CPU
- Dual 2 GHz PowerPC G5
- Graphics
- GeForce 7800GT
- Mac
- Classic Mac
- Mobile Phone
Hello hackintosh world! I spent over an hour on a post already before accidentally losing it...let's see if I can get the gist of it here again. I am very much a noob when it comes to the building of computers, and especially with putting together a hackintosh. I am currently using a Mac G5 from mid-2006. I bought my machine and not two months later Apple made the switch to Intel-based chips To make a long story short I have seen support for my PPC go by the wayside in the past few years and it is restricting my ability to keep up with the rest of the world. Simple things like Firefox and Netflix require an Intel chip, as do all the latest editing platforms. I'm tired of feeling trapped by these restrictions so I feel it's finally time to upgrade to a better way of life. Of course I am finding the entry-level Mac Pros far too expensive for my liking, so I decided to venture into the world of the Hackintosh.
I've been reading up on tonymac's Customac build, as well as following NoFilmSchool's advice. I've finally put together a rough list of components that I'd like to use. Before I post them though I should mention how I intend to use this computer. As stated in the title, this will primarily be a video editing machine. I plan on using FCP, Motion, and Adobe CS6 (PPro, AE, Photoshop, etc.). I will also be using this for everyday computing. I do not plan on doing any gaming at this point, but if I do I would categorize it as "casual gaming." The biggest roadblock I have hit in the planning stage involves the video card. I'm leaning toward the GTX-570, but could go up to the GTX-670. From my understanding the GTX-670 has been optimized for gamers and may not be ideal for my intended uses. If anyone could clarify this I would be very grateful. Another must-have for me (or at least a "really-want") is a very quiet machine. My G5 has always been quite noisy...I can hear the mechanics of the fans rather than just air moving through. So quiet operation is a must.
There are a couple things I'm looking for regarding feedback on my list here. First off I want to be sure I haven't included any components that incompatible with OSX ML or any of the software I have listed. Second, if anyone has any suggestions for components that are better suited for my needs they would be greatly appreciated. Of course any suggestions that might help reduce the cost are welcome as well
So here we go with my components list so far:
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-Z77X-UD5H (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128545)
or Gigabyte GA-Z77X-UP5-TH (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128559)
Right now I'm leaning toward the UP5-TH as many folks seem to have had a fairly easy time getting this board ready to go. Currently, however, I do not have any Thunderbolt devices and am unsure if the $60 price difference is worth it.
CPU: Intel Core i7-3770K Quad-Core Processor 3.5 GHz 6 MB Cache LGA 1155 - BX80637I73770K
(http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819116501)
I don't plan on doing any overclocking, but for $20 more I like having the option should I change my mind later.
CPU Cooler: COOLER MASTER Hyper 212 Plus RR-B10-212P-G1 "Heatpipe Direct Contact" Long Life Sleeve 120mm CPU Cooler
(http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835103065)
I might not actually need this, but I feel better having it. Plus it should help with lowering the overall sound, no?
GPU: I haven't officially decided on one yet. I strongly leaning toward the Nvidia GTX-570 as I believe it will perform well for the tasks I have, but I'm not sure if jumping up to the Nvidia GTX-670 wouldn't be a wise choice as well. Another issue I have regarding the GPU is which version to go with. EVGA seems well-regarded for its warranty, though their prices are a bit higher. I also noticed that each seller seems to have a handful of different models. Can anyone suggest a GTX-570 that balances price, performance, and hopefully quiet operation?
PSU: SeaSonic M12II 620 Bronze 620W ATX12V V2.3 / EPS 12V V2.91 SLI Ready 80 PLUS BRONZE Certified Modular Active PFC PSU
(http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817151095)
I don't really know a whole lot about PSUs, but this one seemed well rated. Please let me know if I should jump up to a 750W or if you know of a very reliable PSU.
RAM: Corsair Vengeance 16GB (2x8GB) DDR3 1600 MHz (PC3 12800) Desktop Memory (CML16GX3M2A1600C10)
(http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820233280)
I was also looking at the G.Skill X Series Ripjaws 16GB F3-1600C9D-16GXM, which has a slightly faster timing score but costs $15 more.
SSD: SAMSUNG 830 Series MZ-7PC128B/WW 2.5" 128GB SATA III MLC Internal Solid State Drive (SSD)
(http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820147163)
I'm considering jumping up to the 256GB version if it might give better performance, but the extra cost will likely keep it to 128GB.
HDD: Western Digital WD Black WD1002FAEX 1TB 7200 RPM SATA 6.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive -Bare Drive
(http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136533)
I haven't had one fail, but I am worried that my current one might be noisy. Who else makes great, reliable HDDs?
Optical Drive: ASUS DRW-24B1ST/BLK/B/AS Black SATA 24X DVD Burner - Bulk - OEM
(http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827135204)
I know the Sony Optiarcs are recommended, but it seems these will work just as well. True?
Case: Fractal Design Define R4 Black Pearl w/ USB 3.0 ATX Mid Tower Silent PC Computer Case
(http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811352020)
This has the looks and quietness I desire. One thing that might cause me to pass on this one however is that it only has two 5.25" bays. I had been planning on installing a DVD-RW drive and hopefully a blu-ray drive in the future, but I'm not sure if I would regret not having space for a card reader or some other device that uses those bays. The alternative case I am looking at is the Corsair Obisidian 550D, which has fewer I/O spots in front but does carry more 5.25 bays. Some reviews I have seen have questioned the sturdiness and quality of the doors and side panels, saying that they can be somewhat difficult to deal with. If anyone has an opinion on either of these cases I'd love to hear them. I know a lot of people who have the Fractal enjoy it very much...but is it worth losing out on some extra 5.25 bays?
I apologize if this is a bit long-winded, but I wanted to let you know where I was coming from with each component so it might be easier if you have some suggestions that might better fit what I need to do. Also, please let me know if I missed anything of importance in this build. I'm fairly confident that everything will be compatible as I didn't really stray from any of the recommended builds, but let me know what you think. Clearly the GPU is where I need the most assistance. Anyway, my goal is to get the plan nailed down and take advantage of any Black Friday deals I see. With any luck I'll have a fully operational beast of a hack by Christmas!
Thanks for taking the time to read through all of this...I feel better having some knowledgeable experts checking things out before I dive into this mess!
I've been reading up on tonymac's Customac build, as well as following NoFilmSchool's advice. I've finally put together a rough list of components that I'd like to use. Before I post them though I should mention how I intend to use this computer. As stated in the title, this will primarily be a video editing machine. I plan on using FCP, Motion, and Adobe CS6 (PPro, AE, Photoshop, etc.). I will also be using this for everyday computing. I do not plan on doing any gaming at this point, but if I do I would categorize it as "casual gaming." The biggest roadblock I have hit in the planning stage involves the video card. I'm leaning toward the GTX-570, but could go up to the GTX-670. From my understanding the GTX-670 has been optimized for gamers and may not be ideal for my intended uses. If anyone could clarify this I would be very grateful. Another must-have for me (or at least a "really-want") is a very quiet machine. My G5 has always been quite noisy...I can hear the mechanics of the fans rather than just air moving through. So quiet operation is a must.
There are a couple things I'm looking for regarding feedback on my list here. First off I want to be sure I haven't included any components that incompatible with OSX ML or any of the software I have listed. Second, if anyone has any suggestions for components that are better suited for my needs they would be greatly appreciated. Of course any suggestions that might help reduce the cost are welcome as well
So here we go with my components list so far:
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-Z77X-UD5H (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128545)
or Gigabyte GA-Z77X-UP5-TH (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128559)
Right now I'm leaning toward the UP5-TH as many folks seem to have had a fairly easy time getting this board ready to go. Currently, however, I do not have any Thunderbolt devices and am unsure if the $60 price difference is worth it.
CPU: Intel Core i7-3770K Quad-Core Processor 3.5 GHz 6 MB Cache LGA 1155 - BX80637I73770K
(http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819116501)
I don't plan on doing any overclocking, but for $20 more I like having the option should I change my mind later.
CPU Cooler: COOLER MASTER Hyper 212 Plus RR-B10-212P-G1 "Heatpipe Direct Contact" Long Life Sleeve 120mm CPU Cooler
(http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835103065)
I might not actually need this, but I feel better having it. Plus it should help with lowering the overall sound, no?
GPU: I haven't officially decided on one yet. I strongly leaning toward the Nvidia GTX-570 as I believe it will perform well for the tasks I have, but I'm not sure if jumping up to the Nvidia GTX-670 wouldn't be a wise choice as well. Another issue I have regarding the GPU is which version to go with. EVGA seems well-regarded for its warranty, though their prices are a bit higher. I also noticed that each seller seems to have a handful of different models. Can anyone suggest a GTX-570 that balances price, performance, and hopefully quiet operation?
PSU: SeaSonic M12II 620 Bronze 620W ATX12V V2.3 / EPS 12V V2.91 SLI Ready 80 PLUS BRONZE Certified Modular Active PFC PSU
(http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817151095)
I don't really know a whole lot about PSUs, but this one seemed well rated. Please let me know if I should jump up to a 750W or if you know of a very reliable PSU.
RAM: Corsair Vengeance 16GB (2x8GB) DDR3 1600 MHz (PC3 12800) Desktop Memory (CML16GX3M2A1600C10)
(http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820233280)
I was also looking at the G.Skill X Series Ripjaws 16GB F3-1600C9D-16GXM, which has a slightly faster timing score but costs $15 more.
SSD: SAMSUNG 830 Series MZ-7PC128B/WW 2.5" 128GB SATA III MLC Internal Solid State Drive (SSD)
(http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820147163)
I'm considering jumping up to the 256GB version if it might give better performance, but the extra cost will likely keep it to 128GB.
HDD: Western Digital WD Black WD1002FAEX 1TB 7200 RPM SATA 6.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive -Bare Drive
(http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136533)
I haven't had one fail, but I am worried that my current one might be noisy. Who else makes great, reliable HDDs?
Optical Drive: ASUS DRW-24B1ST/BLK/B/AS Black SATA 24X DVD Burner - Bulk - OEM
(http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827135204)
I know the Sony Optiarcs are recommended, but it seems these will work just as well. True?
Case: Fractal Design Define R4 Black Pearl w/ USB 3.0 ATX Mid Tower Silent PC Computer Case
(http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811352020)
This has the looks and quietness I desire. One thing that might cause me to pass on this one however is that it only has two 5.25" bays. I had been planning on installing a DVD-RW drive and hopefully a blu-ray drive in the future, but I'm not sure if I would regret not having space for a card reader or some other device that uses those bays. The alternative case I am looking at is the Corsair Obisidian 550D, which has fewer I/O spots in front but does carry more 5.25 bays. Some reviews I have seen have questioned the sturdiness and quality of the doors and side panels, saying that they can be somewhat difficult to deal with. If anyone has an opinion on either of these cases I'd love to hear them. I know a lot of people who have the Fractal enjoy it very much...but is it worth losing out on some extra 5.25 bays?
I apologize if this is a bit long-winded, but I wanted to let you know where I was coming from with each component so it might be easier if you have some suggestions that might better fit what I need to do. Also, please let me know if I missed anything of importance in this build. I'm fairly confident that everything will be compatible as I didn't really stray from any of the recommended builds, but let me know what you think. Clearly the GPU is where I need the most assistance. Anyway, my goal is to get the plan nailed down and take advantage of any Black Friday deals I see. With any luck I'll have a fully operational beast of a hack by Christmas!
Thanks for taking the time to read through all of this...I feel better having some knowledgeable experts checking things out before I dive into this mess!